Lectures on Clifford (Geometric) Algebras and Applications

The subject of Clifford (geometric) algebras offers a unified algebraic framework for the direct expression of the geometric concepts underlying the mathematical theories of linear and multilinear algebra, projective and affine geometries, and differential geometry. This bird's-eye view of Clifford (geometric) algebras and their applications is presented by six of the world's leading experts in the field.Key topics and features of this systematic exposition:* An Introductory chapter on Clifford Algebras by Pertti Lounesto* Ian Porteous (Chapter 2) reveals the mathematical structure of Clifford algebras in terms of the classical groups* John Ryan (Chapter 3) introduces the basic concepts of Clifford analysis, which extends the well-known complex analysis of the plane to three and higher dimensions* William Baylis (Chapter 4) investigates some of the extensive applications that have been made in mathematical physics, including the basic ideas of electromagnetism and special relativity* John Selig (Chapter 5) explores the successes that Clifford algebras, especially quaternions and bi-quaternions, have found in computer vision and robotics* Tom Branson (Chapter 6) discusses some of the deepest results that Clifford algebras have made possible in our understanding of differential geometry* Editors (Appendix) give an extensive review of various software packages for computations with Clifford algebras including standalone programs, on-line calculators, special purpose numeric software, and symbolic add-ons to computer algebra systemsThis text will serve beginning graduate students and researchers in diverse areas---mathematics, physics, computer science and engineering; it will be useful both for newcomers who have little prior knowledge of the subject and established professionals who wish to keep abreast of the latest applications.

Table of Contents:
Lecture 1: Introduction to Clifford Algebras.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 Clifford algebra of the Euclidean plane.- 1.3 Quaternions.- 1.4 Clifford algebra of the Euclidean space ?3.- 1.5 The electorn spin in a magnetic field.- 1.6 From column spinors to spinor operators.- 1.7 In 4D: Clifford algebra C?4 of ?4.- 1.8 Clifford algebra of Minkowski spacetime.- 1.9 The exterior algebra and contractions.- 1.10 The Grassmann-Cayley algebra and shuffle products.- 1.11 Alternative definitions of the Clifford algebra.- 1.12 References.- Lecture 2: Mathematical Structure of Clifford Algebras.- 2.1 Clifford algebras.- 2.2 Conjugation.- 2.3 References.- Lecture 3: Clifford Analysis.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Foundations of Clifford analysis.- 3.3 Other types of Clifford holomorphic functions.- 3.4 The equation Dkf=0.- 3.5 Conformal groups and Clifford analysis.- 3.6 Conformally flat spin manifolds.- 3.7 Boundary behavior and Hardy spaces.- 3.8 More on Clifford analysis on the sphere.- 3.9 The Fourier transform and Clifford analysis.- 3.10 Complex Clifford analysis.- 3.11 References.- Lecture 4: Applications of Clifford Algebras in Physics.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Three Clifford algebras.- 4.3 Paravectors and relativity.- 4.4 Eigenspinors.- 4.5 Maxwell’s equation.- 4.6 Quantum theory.- 4.7 Conclusions.- 4.8 References.- Lecture 5: Clifford Algebras in Engineering.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Quaternions.- 5.3 Biquaternions.- 5.4 Points, lines, and planes.- 5.5 Computer vision example.- 5.6 Robot kinematics.- 5.7 Concluding remarks.- 5.8 References.- Lecture 6: Clifford Bundles and Clifford Algebras.- 6.1 Spin geometry.- 6.2 Conformal structure.- 6.3 Tractor constructions.- 6.4 References.- 211.

Review :
From the reviews: "...This book is recommended reading for beginning graduate students and other newcomers in this field. The authors of each chapter are world leading experts in their fields and the chapters are well written and organized. In spite of the introductory level of each chapter, many references are given which will help the interested reader go deeper into the subject of interest. Moreover, an appendix written by the editors gives a summary of the existing Clifford algebra software for symbolic computations."--Mathematical Reviews "This text contains a set of lectures presented by P. Lounesto, Introduction to Clifford Algebras; I. Porteous, Mathematical Structure of Clifford Algebras; J. Ryan, Clifford Analysis; W.E. Baylis, Applications of Clifford Algebras in Physics; J.M. Selig, Clifford Algebras in Engineering; T. Branson, Clifford Bundles and Clifford Algebras; and an appendix by R. Ablamowicz and G. Sobczyk describing software for solving different kinds of problems involving computations with Clifford algebras. Each one of the lectures is a jewel and will be appreciated [by] newcomers wanting an introduction to a rapidly developing field as well [as] by practitioners, [who] for pleasure certainly will enjoy reading the texts of those well-known experts..."--Zentralblatt Math "The book under review contains the series of lectures on Clifford Geometric Algebras ! . the principal aim of the book to provide beginning graduate students in mathematics and physics and other who are new-interested with no prior knowledge in the secrets of Clifford algebras has been achieved. ! the presented material subsumes research activities and some of the recent scientific advances of this theory, and it is an useful learning tool for scientists and engineers from academia and industry." (Clementina D. Mladenova, Journal of Geometry and Symmetry in Physics, Issue 3, 2005)